• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Staten Is. Ferry, then what

RDB

RDB

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
890
Reaction score
3
Location
NC/VA
After riding the Staten Island Ferry to Manhatten, what to do and see close by?

How best do we get around? We can not walk but a block or two.


I'm asking here as I want input from not only the NE bunch, but anyone who is experienced.
 
RDB said:
After riding the Staten Island Ferry to Manhatten, what to do and see close by?

How best do we get around? We can not walk but a block or two.


I'm asking here as I want input from not only the NE bunch, but anyone who is experienced.
Click to expand...

There is a free bus - but with very limited stops - run by the NY Waterway.

Far more useful are the subways - they go almost everywhere - as well as the transit buses.

Or there are the sightseeing buses that will take you to the better known sights directly. That may be the best choice for you if you don't really know what you care to see.
 
When I read the title I was going to suggest taking the next ferry back to Manhattan.
 
timeos2 said:
There is a free bus - but with very limited stops - run by the NY Waterway.
Click to expand...

Do you mean the regular red-and-blue buses run by NY Waterway? You can ride them if you're going to be taking their ferry, but you're not supposed to use them if you're just riding around town.

The drivers do stop people getting on and ask them if they are going to take the ferry, and once you get on, you're expected to ride all the way to the ferry terminal. The downtown drivers might not care too much, but the midtown drivers are pretty stubborn.
 
We are unable to walk far anymore, so wonder how far to catch the HOP-ON Hop-Off tour bus?

How far to the subway, and where do we get off the subway to catch the tour-bus?

For getting to and off the ferry; are there stairs or ramps to navigate? Is there better times to catch the ferry, so not so much of a mob of people?
 
RDB said:
We are unable to walk far anymore, so wonder how far to catch the HOP-ON Hop-Off tour bus?

How far to the subway, and where do we get off the subway to catch the tour-bus?

For getting to and off the ferry; are there stairs or ramps to navigate? Is there better times to catch the ferry, so not so much of a mob of people?
Click to expand...

If you can't walk far, I'd just take a cab to wherever you want to go.

Are you just in Manhattan for the day?

If you are just one day and can't walk much, I'd personally be looking at performing arts venues, lectures, planetarium shows, etc. What kind of things are you interested in seeing? The tourist sites from a bus does not sound like that much fun to me.

When are you going? Can you walk some, like for 30 minutes? Or just 5-10 minutes at a time?

H
 
RDB said:
After riding the Staten Island Ferry to Manhatten, what to do and see close by?

How best do we get around? We can not walk but a block or two.


I'm asking here as I want input from not only the NE bunch, but anyone who is experienced.
Click to expand...

When you exit the ferry you will have to walk up a ramp, no stairs, which leads you to the street. I don't recall any Hop On bus vendors in that area.

If you are not able to walk far I would flag a cab to Battery Park less than 1/2 mile away. This is where tours to the Statue of Liberty originate. There are definitely Hop On bus vendors there.

The Staten Island Ferry is used by commuters during weekday rush hours. So avoid 6-9am and 430-630pm. Most times it's a 15 minute wait.

Close by the ferry but probably not walkable for you is Wall Street and the World Trade Center Memorial .
 
Last edited:
Won't the subway itself be difficult for you, with all the stairs?
 
heathpack said:
I The tourist sites from a bus does not sound like that much fun to me.
Click to expand...
The open top bus tour was really interesting and quite informative. The tour guide told a lot of historical stuff and pointed out all the famous sites. It's the best way to get a good overview of the city, and the most efficient way to see a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. If you have time, do the uptown and downtown routes.

Taking a cab from the ferry to Battery Park sounds like a great plan. Maybe you could tell the cab driver that your intention is to get to the hop on/hop off bus location. Here's the one I took. If you can manage the stairs, the upper open air seats offer the best views.
 
Last edited:
We should be in Staten Is. in a couple days,,, but then if we do Cape Cod, it may be another week. Depends on the weather reports also.

Great replies here. Thanks.

Getting up top of bus is doable if we don't bang anything. The ferry terminals, are their handicap elevators?
 
The Ferry is serviced by flat ramps. The number 1 bus that runs uptown eventually going on Madison would be a good choice for you. It stops a block from the ferry. It is a lovely ride and only takes one fare to see a lot of nice things.

Saying that, with no experience in NYC, I would take a cab to Chinatown and have lunch. Then get on the hop on hop off bus and see the rest of the city. VERY OFTEN Subway stations have steps. I would avoid them. You can download a subway map to your smart phone as an app.

Look at the MTA's Accessible website. You'll see how to get reduced priced fares and which stations are HC accessible (meaning elevators or escalators).
 
Just back from NYC. If I remember correctly it is about three long blocks from the ferry to where you can pick up the GrayLine open top bus. If the weather is cooperative, this is one of the best ways to see the city. If you want to eat in China Town, you can "hop off" and then "hop on" after lunch. We also took the three hour Circle Line boat tour which was very informative and enjoyable for us since we had never been to NYC. You can sit inside on the boat so if it is raining, this would be an option. You would have to take a taxi to pick up the boat tour since it would be too far for you to walk to the pier from where it leaves. Enjooy!
 
I'm not sure of the physical limitations in your situation, but I agree, avoid the subways if you have difficulty with walking or climbing stairs, sometimes many stairs and several levels. The hop-on/hop-offs are fun, but you have to deal with schedules and getting on and off the bus in a timely manner.

If you have the funds, spring for cabs.
 
We did the ferry during our trip this summer. The boat was packed but apparently everyone was a tourist. As soon as the boat stopped everyone made a mad dash for the returning ferry.
 
jehb2 said:
We did the ferry during our trip this summer. The boat was packed but apparently everyone was a tourist. As soon as the boat stopped everyone made a mad dash for the returning ferry.
Click to expand...

I feel we could do that, but so much lies ahead.
btw, can not the Statue be seen from Battery Park?

Is there anything wrong with driving Broadway. Traffic, I can understand.
 
RDB said:
I feel we could do that, but so much lies ahead.
btw, can not the Statue be seen from Battery Park?

Is there anything wrong with driving Broadway. Traffic, I can understand.
Click to expand...

First question:
http://www.newyorklogue.com/statue-of-liberty-and-how-to-see-it-for-free.html

Second question:
Do you mean is there anything wrong with renting a car and driving on Broadway in Manhattan? No...except it's intense, not just traffic but aggressive taxis, people walking into the street, construction. And Broadway moves surprisingly quickly considering all the action that's happening on it. And traffic only goes in one direction--north to south. And then there's the problem of where to park! But if you've been to NYC before, and you've seen it and it seems okay for you, then you should be good to go.
 
RDB said:
can not the Statue be seen from Battery Park?

Is there anything wrong with driving Broadway. Traffic, I can understand.
Click to expand...
You'll get a nice view of the Statue from the ferry as you go by it.

I don't think you'd enjoy driving in Manhattan because there's not only a lot of traffic, there are a lot of pedestrians crossing the streets at every corner. There's so much going on in and on the streets that you won't be able to pay much attention to the sites you are passing because you'll be too focused on not hitting someone or being hit yourself. That's what is so good about being on the top of the double decker bus--you are above the traffic and can see the buildings better.
 
A Couple of Caveats

As a native new Yorker who has lived here all my life:
1- Do not drive. I repeat, do not drive
2- You canot take a cab from the ferry to the Statue of Liberty Boat. The boat leaves from the waterfront. It is a ten minute walk through Battery Park to get from the ferry to the Statue of Liberty boat.
3- With your physical limitations, do not take the subway. Multiple levels of stairs to get up and down to the trains
4- Your best bet is to grab a cab outside the ferry terminal and go to Chinatown or the Hop on/Hop off bus stop or any other attraction. It will be more difficult to get a cab during a weekday, very easy on weekends
5- The reality is that New York is a walking city and with physical limitations, you are limited in what you can do
 
Remember that almost everything will be easier and less crowded on the weekends.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top